Although advertised as the Ipswich steeplechases at least three of these events are recorded as being held in Bramford.
At the time of the first two, in the 1840’s, the Morgan family farmed much of the land in the village, and it was with their permission that these events were held. The last one, in 1856, seems to be over the same ground but farmed by different families.
It is certain that the races started from “Scotland Field”, where the Suffolk Water Park and golf centre is now. “Scotland Field” features in an article about the Bramford Angel about a horse race held there in the 18th Century.
From a detailed description of the course, it is possible to draw a map of the route taken.
The three events recorded are as follows:
Thursday 20th April 1843
“From ten o’clock on Thursday morning until two at noon, the high road leading to the pretty village of Bramford was thronged with carriages, coaches, “busses,” gigs, and pedestrians, all rattling and crowding on, amidst clouds of dust, to the great point of attraction, and by the latter hour, the ground, and the neighbouring heights, were covered with people”
[Full Ipswich Journal article article here]
Thursday 5th December 1844
“It will be borne in mind that the present steeple chase was fixed to come off some time in the course of the last spring ; but that the stewards and the sportsmen interested In the affair, postponed it sine die, in consequence of the fatal accident in Bramford Park, which then terminated the earthly career of the late lamented Lord W. Hill, under whose auspices, especially, the present steeple chase was got up, and which it was anticipated would, if possible, eclipse the interest felt in its predecessor.”
[Full Ipswich Journal article article here]
[Follow the the link to Lord W. Hill here]
Thursday 11th December 1856
“Rarely has Bramford, we should think, been the scene of so much bustle and animation, and which the merry peals of the village steeple tended to heighten. Notwithstanding the unpromising state of the weather, throngs were early seen wending their way to the ground, and by half-past one a large concourse had assembled, estimated by some (including those scattered over the course) at 10,000. Special trains also threw in a goodly number. The ordinary train from Norwich was accelerated some few minutes in order to reach Bramford station in time for the first race, and from this part of the line a large number came.”
[Full Suffolk chronicle article article here]